Villa Kleanthi

I felt a little sad seeing the villa photos while writing this, because I wish I were back there. It’s a beautiful place in a unique area, with nearly every utensil you could imagine and a grill area that was a highlight for us. Niko at the local supermarket has charcoal, and some was already there for our first grill. Our host arrived on time to meet us and was there to say goodbye when we left. One thing to know if you arrive late: the access roads are narrow. Coming from the Aremni side, don’t take the first turn if you have a large vehicle, you’ll need a rental. The second turn is a very sharp right and takes two attempts.

Marina and Takis gave us such wonderful Greek hospitality, and Kostas from the management company, Etouri, provided excellent service, better than I’ve experienced in decades of travel. The Villa is in a quiet spot with beautiful countryside views, about 20 minutes from Rethymno and 35 minutes from the gorgeous southern beaches. We’ve stayed in many places across Greece, and Villa Kleanthi is clearly one of the best. It’s thoughtfully designed and impeccably done, with everything we needed for a comfortable, restful stay. We’ll be back.

The house was spectacular, with sleeping space for 10, a pool about 7m long, air conditioning, a huge kitchen, and a serious audio system with audiophile gear. It’s a bit of a drive from any major airport, but the valley is beautiful and secluded, with lots of excellent restaurants nearby. Marina was super helpful and even baked us a cake when we arrived. Highly recommended for a getaway in Crete.

A lovely place to slow down with family, with all the facilities we needed: a pool, BBQ, fruit covered fig trees, nice views, and peaceful surroundings. The customer service was great too, with lots of suggestions to help make it a perfect vacation.